Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Locum Compensation Benchmarks
Survey data by region and facility setting. Source: BLS OEWS, AMN Healthcare, CHG Healthcare. For informational purposes only.
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Enter your rate to see where it falls against these benchmarks.
Compare to Market Data →Regional Benchmark Data
P25 / Median / P75 hourly rates in $/hr
| Region | Setting | P25 | Median | P75 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Urban Hospital | $195 | $232 | $272 | BLS OEWS 2024 + AMN Healthcare 2025 Survey |
| Rural Critical Access | $212 | $252 | $298 | BLS OEWS 2024 + CHG Healthcare 2025 Survey | |
| Midwest | Urban Hospital | $178 | $215 | $252 | BLS OEWS 2024 + AMN Healthcare 2025 Survey |
| Rural Critical Access | $195 | $235 | $278 | BLS OEWS 2024 + CHG Healthcare 2025 Survey | |
| South | Urban Hospital | $170 | $205 | $242 | BLS OEWS 2024 + AMN Healthcare 2025 Survey |
| Rural Critical Access | $188 | $225 | $265 | BLS OEWS 2024 + Weatherby Healthcare 2025 | |
| West | Urban Hospital | $205 | $245 | $288 | BLS OEWS 2024 + AMN Healthcare 2025 Survey |
| Rural Critical Access | $222 | $265 | $312 | BLS OEWS 2024 + CHG Healthcare 2025 Survey |
Market Overview
PM&R locum demand is growing rapidly driven by inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) and long-term acute care (LTAC) requirements for daily physician oversight. The CMS requirement for a physiatrist to lead IRF care has created a predictable demand base. Acute inpatient rehab is the dominant locum segment.
Key Leverage Points
Urban Hospital
- Inpatient rehabilitation experience with IRF documentation requirements is the key differentiator
- Spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury experience opens top-tier rehab hospital assignments
- EMG/nerve conduction interpretation capability adds value beyond inpatient coverage
- Amputee rehabilitation experience is in chronic shortage at most VA and IRF settings
Rural Critical Access
- Rural IRFs often have only one physiatrist — coverage gaps create strong negotiating leverage
- Swing bed and skilled nursing facility medical director roles supplement IRF coverage income
- General acute rehabilitation breadth (stroke, ortho, cardiac) is required at rural sites
- Travel and housing are standard; rural IRFs often offer long-term block arrangements
Contract Review Checklist
Items to review carefully before signing
- Patient census not defined — IRF medical directors can carry 20–40 patients depending on facility
- On-call expectations after hours not specified — IRF call is often more demanding than expected
- Documentation requirements not disclosed — IRF compliance documentation can add 2+ hours daily
- Non-physician provider supervision scope not defined — many IRFs rely heavily on NPs
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Negotiation Toolkit
Expanded benchmark tables, sample negotiation language, contract review checklist, and state-by-state take-home comparisons. One-time purchase.
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